Knock-down partition assembly



ct, 15, 1935. E. E. KOENIG KNOCK-DOWN PARTITION ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 8, 1932 v 7 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNOCK-DOWN PARTITION ASSEMBLY Elmer Edward Koenig, Garfield Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Mills Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 8, 1932, Serial No. 591,671

15 Claims.

same.

In partition units heretofore constructed, great difficulty has been encountered in obtaining requisite strength along the cornice, especially where no bracing is provided from the ceiling. Sturdy means for connecting the cornice to the partition wall units must also be provided so that the partition as a whole will be adequately braced and strengthened. Where the partition is of the knock-down type, the difiiculty of obtaining the requisite strength is greatly increased.

An object of my invention is to provide a knock-down partition assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture and erect and is unusually strong and sturdy.

Another object of my invention is to provide a knock-down partition assembly having adjustable means for firmly securing the cornice to the partition post and partition wall unit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a knock-down partition unit constructed so as to facilitate wiring within and through the partition post and cornice.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sturdy cornice construction which is extremely flexible, which can be run any length without the use of welded braces, straps or splices and which will permit a wide range of artistic designs without sacrifice to the strength-giving features of the construction. I

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical end View of the cornice member and a portion of the partition wall unit, this view being taken on the line ll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional View through the cornice member, the partition post supporting the cornice member being shown in dotted lines, this view being taken on line 2' 2 of Fig. 1; r 7

Fig. 3 is a vertical face view of the partition assembly, parts being broken away to more clearly show certain features of the construction; and

Fig. 4' is a vertical cross-sectional view through the cornicemember and partition post, showing more particularly the means for rigidly and adjustably securing the same together, this view 5 being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

I have shown in the drawing a knock-down partition assembly having a cornice unit II) which 10 rests upon spaced uprights H and I2. My cornice unit is provided with an inner channelshaped member which gives rugged strength to the cornice unit and an outer trim member which may be so shaped as to provide a pleasing and 15 The web portion 14 is recessed, as shown in Fig. l,

to receive the frame member'36 of the partition panel 50. The partition panel 50 may be of sheet metal, glass, wood, fibre, or composition material and made either solid, hollow or laminated. 25 This recess is formed by stamping the web-portion '14 inwardly defining side wallportions l5 and bottom portion IS. The top edge of the side Walls l3 of the trim member may be bent to provide inwardly extending flanges [1, which greatly 30 strengthens the trim member and cornice unit as a whole.

Within the trim member is securely seated a' channel shaped strengthening member which may be of such gauge as is necessary for rigid strength. 35 This channel shaped strengthening member is provided with side walls l8 which snugly seat against the inner faces of the side walls [3 of the trim member. The web portion IQ of the strengthening member is recessed as at ZlL'this 40 recess 20 being adapted to receive certain parts of a filler or superstructure unit (not shown) which extends from the cornice to the ceiling. The strengthening channel member is preferably inverted, as shown in Fig. 1, and the side walls It! 45 thereof are provided with inwardly extending flange portions 2| which seat closely against the inner face of the Web portions M of the trim member. The flange portions 2| are also provided with upwardly turned edge portions 22 50 which seat against and extend slightly above the side wall portions I5 of the trim member.

The vertical uprights H and I2 are generally spaced'apart and preferably channel-shaped in general outline. Each upright comprises side face 55 with which upright connecting means, of which" clip member 28 forms a part, may engage to bind the uprights firmly together in spaced relation- 10 ship. a The means for securing the cornice unit and assembled partition posts, comprising uprights H and I2, rigidly and adjustably'togethenwill now be described. A U-shaped yoke member 29 is' 15 provided with hook portions 130 which seat over and engage edge portions 22 of the inner strengthening channel member. The yoke member extends down through an aperture 3| providedin the bottom portion 56 of the trim member. A

20 long adjusting screw 3|a. is threaded throughthe saddle portion 32 of the yoke member. The threaded screw 31 carries a sturdy bridge or 'bar 'member 33 which rests upon the head of the screw. A strap member 34 is suitably riveted as 25 at .35, welded or otherwise secured to the side walls 23 of each of the uprights lland l2. The bridge member'3'3 is so arranged that each end thereof seats under and engages one of the strap members 34 provided on the uprights LI and I2 30 respectively.

It is now seen that by manipulating the adjusting screw 3|, the cornice unit may be pulled tightly 'into seating position on the uprights H and 12 at the same time and the entire cornice 35 and post unit thus clampedand drawn together in a firm and immovable manner. The grip of the yoke member can be released 'by a 'few turns of the screw bolt 31a and the entire assembly canbe disconnected and taken apart. Tofacili- 40 tate assembly and disassembly,zthe aperture T31 is oifsuch size and shape as to permit the hook portions 30 of the yoke-member. to slip through when moved in a position parallel with the cor-'- .nicerun. The apertures 3| maybecut-into the bottom of thetrim member at spaced intervals .of sayfiinches so thatthe samecornice unitmay "be :used for partitions having panel units of different widths. The uprights II and 12 can then bepositioned at the points-desiredalong the cor- 50 nice run toaccommodate :the various panel unit widths. The longitudinal 'aperture'3l in the cornice unit is so shaped as to permit the passage of wiring conduits and cables itherethrough. at any time after the partition is erected. 55 The upper edge of the wallpanel 50 is held .in ,place by means of a panel frame or moulding 36 which seats within the recess 16 provideddn the trim member. The panel frame .-36 is :formed .as shown more particularly in Figpl-and 'has'an 60 abutment portion 38;against which'the .wall panel 50 abuts. The wall panel 50 is locked in place by :means of a trim strip having an abutment portion 39-simi1ar to the abutment portion 38 of the frame 36. Mouldingstrip -39'is provided 65 with-a long legportion 4| which seats within 'a recess portion '42, formed by asharp rebend in the frame member 36. "When the panel 50 is to be inserted v,or :removed, the -'moulding strip 39 can be easily removed by withdrawing the same 70 'out of engagement with the recess-portion 4|. -To give the panel frame 38 additional strengtha channel piece43'may be provided whichbinds "together and stiifens the leg portions thereof.

It is now seen that when the wall panel '50, 75 panel frame 36,;uprights 1-0" and H and the .cor-

nice unit are assembled as above described, lateral shifting of the cornice unit with respect to the partition post is positively prevented. The inner stiffening channel of the cornice unit fits snugly within the trim member and the joints of one are staggered with respect to the other so that these members comprising the cornice unit act to reinforce each other and eliminate the necessity of splicing, Welding or bolting at the joints. My cornice unit is free from welds, rivets or bolts and. thus is free from blemish and can be made more economically. Furthermore, my cornice unit construction permits great flexibility of artistic design since the exposed face portions {I53 of the trim member may be formed into any number of artistic .designs without affecting the strength of the cornice unit or requiring any change in the general structural features above outlined., The inverted strengthening channel member also forms an enclosed and protective .housing for :electric wiring, conduits and pipes, and these wires, conduits and pipes can be thread- :ed through the apertures 3| into the panel posts .without difliculty.

The cornice unit and wall units may be rapidly assembled-and disassembled by a slight manipulation'of the screw bolt 3|. This feature of quick and positive adjustability is of great advantage whereapartition of knockdown type is desired.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed outin the :annexedzclaims, it will be understood that vari- -.ous-:omissions, substitutions and changes may be madeby those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A partition assembly. including hollow vertical and horizontal members, and adjustable take-up 'means concealed within said hollow .members and adjustably connecting the same, .said takeeup -means comprising a yoke having spaced arms connected to-one of said members, and an adjustable screw connecting said yoke and another of said -members.

2. A partition assembly including hollow ver- 45 .tical and horizontal members, and adjustable take-up means concealed -within said hollow .members and adjustably connecting the same, said take-up 'means comprising a yoke having spaced hooks connected to one of said members, -a bridge :member connected to another of said members, and adjustable means connecting said yoke and bridge member.

3. A partition assembly including hollow ver- ,tical and horizontal members, and adjustable take up. means concealed within said hollow members andadjustably connecting the same, .said take-up means comprising a yoke having -a-pair of spaced hooks releasably connected to one of said members, a bridge member connected ;to another of said members, and an adjustable screw-connecting said yoke and bridge member.

4. A partition assembly including hollow vertical and horizontal members, and adjustable take-up means concealed within said hollow :members and adjustably connecting the same, said take-upmeans comprising a yoke having a pair-of spaced hooks releasably connected to one of said members, a pair of strap members connected to another of said members, a,- bridge member extending between said strap members,

and an adjustable screw connecting said yoke and bridge member. 7

A partition assembly of the character de- .scribed including a .hollow'post, a cornice mem- 7.5

ber seated on said post, and take-up means adjustably connecting said post and cornice member comprising a hook element releasably engaging the cornice member and extending into the post, and adjustable means connecting said hook element to said post.

6. A partition assembly of the character described including a hollow post, a cornice member seated on said post, and take-up means adjustably connecting said post and cornice member comprising a hook element releasably engaging the cornice member and extending into the post, a bridge member mounted within said hollow post, and adjustable means connecting said hook element and bridge member.

7. A partition assembly of the character described including a hollow post, a cornice member seated on said post, and take-up means adjustably connecting said post and cornice memher, said take-up means including a yoke having a pair of hook portions engaging the cornice member and extending into the post, a bridge member mounted within said hollow post, and adjustable means connecting said yoke and bridge member.

8. A partition assembly of the character described including a hollow post, a cornice member seated on said post, and take-up means adjustably connecting said post and cornice member, said take-up means including a yoke extending through an aperture in said cornice members and into the hollow post, said yoke having hook portions engaging the cornice member along the sides of said aperture, a bridge member mounted within the post, and an adjustable screw connecting said yoke and bridge member.

9. A partition assembly comprising spaced verticals, clips connected to said verticals to maintain the same in fixed spaced relationship, a channel shaped cornice member seated on said verticals, and adjustable take-up means connecting said spaced verticals and cornice member, said means including hook portions adapted to releasably engage said cornice member.

10. A partition assembly comprising spaced verticals, a bridge member extending between said verticals, a, channel shaped cornice member seated on said verticals, a yoke having hook portions engaging said cornice member, and adjustable means connecting said yoke and bridge member.

11. A partition assembly of the character described including a post member and a cornice unit mounted on said post member, said cornice unit comprising a one piece outer channel shaped member having the flanges thereof upturned and formed into a decorative design, and a one piece inner strengthening channel member extending substantially the full length of said outer member, said strengthening member having side flange portions seated against the inside face of the flanges of said outer member and extending substantially to the web portion thereof. 5

12. A partition assembly including vertical and horizontal members, and adjustable take-up means connecting said members, said take-up means comprising a yoke having spaced hooks connected to one of said members, and adjustable means connected to said yoke and another of said members.

13. A partition assembly of the character described including, a plurality of removable panel units, a cornice unit extending continuously over said panel units providing a lateral thrust resisting framework therefor, said cornice unit comprising an outer member of generally channel shape extending continuously over said panel units, said outer member having a web portion and upturned flange portions, and a reinforcing channel seated within said outer member and extending substantially the full length thereof, said reinforcing channel having down-turned side wall portions seated against the inside face of the flange portions of the outer member, and an inturned portion seated against the web portion ofsaid outer member.

14. A partition assembly of the character described including, a plurality of removable panel units, a, cornice um't extending continuously over said panel units providing a lateral thrust resisting framework therefor, said cornice unit comprising an outer member of generally channel shape extending continuously over said panel units, said outer member having a web portion and upturned flange portions, and a reinforcing channel seated in inverted position within said outer member and extending substantially the full length thereof, said reinforcing channel 40 having side wall portions seated against and closely conforming to the inside contour of the flange portions of the outer member and inturned portions extending from said side wall portions seated against the web portion of the outer member.

15. A partition assembly of the character described including a post member and a cornice unit mounted on said post member, said cornice unit comprising one-piece outer channel shaped 5 sections arranged in end to end abutment, each of said sections having the flange portions thereof upturned, and a one-piece inner reinforcing channel shaped member closely conforming to the inner contour of said outer channel shaped sections extending across the abutting ends thereof.

ELMER EDWARD KOENIG. 

